A01136:182
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London by John Fox. Containing an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romans. Translated out of Latin into English by James Bell.A sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes. Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell.
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1And here I might use offered opportunity, to exclaim against the presumptuous boldness of those persons whatsoever they were, which presumed to thrust into Temples and Churches of Christians, images, and counterfeits of he saints and she saints at the first, and to convey the pure worshipping of the invisible God, to the representations of visible things, contrary to the prescript ordinance of the Law of God, contrary to reason & nature, contrary to the approved custom of the elders, & contrary to all example of the Patriarchs, Prophets & Apostles: out of which puddle as issued wonderful stench, so amongst all other, nothing more noisome than those pestilent Botches of imageworship, breadworship, wineworship, crosseworship, signs & portraits of visible creatures, the view whereof caused the true and sincere profession of the christians to be loathsome to the Jews, to their great hinderance ⟨image 104⟩and prejudice. For what marvel was it if the Jews (that were taught by the prescript rule of gods law to abhor worshipping of images) entering into the churches of christians, & beholding the walls, pillars, & all the corners •hereof, bedaubed with painted, & carved idols, besides innumerable other babbles of imagery, perceiving also open market to be made, not only of the picture of the cross, but of the sacrament of bread & wine also, displayed & blazed abroad not after the manner of communicating, but gloriously vaunted with singular magnificence to be honoured and kneeled unto: what marvel was it (I say) if they being offended with this open idolatry, did so long refrain from us, and from the discipline of our faith?
1And here I might vse offred opportunitie, to exclame against the presumptuous boldenesse of those persons whatsoeuer they were, which presumed to thrust into Temples and Churches of Christians, images, and counterfaites of hee saintes and shee saintes at the first, and to conueye the pure worshipping of ye inuisible God, to the representations of visible things, contrary to the prescript ordinance of ye Law of God, cōtrary to reason & nature, contrary to ye approued custome of ye elders, & cōtrary to al example of ye Patriarches, Prophets & Apostles: out of which puddle as issued wonderful stench, so amongst al other, nothing more noysome thē those pestilent Botches of imageworship, breadworship, wineworship, crosseworship, signes & pourtraictes of visible creatures, ye view wherof caused the true and sincere professiō of ye christians to be lothsome to ye Iewes, to their great hinderāce ⟨image 104⟩and preiudice. For what maruel was it if the Iewes (yt were taught by ye prescript rule of gods law to abhorre worshipping of images) entring into ye churches of christiās, & beholding ye walles, pillers, & al ye corners •hereof, bedawbed wt painted, & carued idoles, besides innumerable other bables of imagery, perceiuing also opē market to be made, not only of ye picture of ye crosse, but of the sacrament of bread & wyne also, displayed & blazed abroad not after ye maner of cōmunicating, but gloriously vaunted wt singular magnificence to be honoured and kneeled vnto: what maruel was it (I say) if they being offended with this open idolatrie, did so long refraine from vs, and from the discipline of our faith?
But it is well now, thanked be Christ,1 that these offensive baggage & image worshippings are for yt more part defaced & scraped out of christian churches, & the ancient purity of christian profession, is begun to take so good footing, that now amongst us remain no dregs in our temples, in our religion, nor in our doctrine, that may minister just occasion of offence to the Jews, or any other enemies, though they inveigh our religion never so much. And I would to God, all other that profess the name ⟨image 105⟩of christians, would yield their like endeavour to the abolishment of all corruptions of religion, and incivility of living out of their congregations, which may breed any further loathsomeness to the Jews. Truly this is much to be lamented, that our adversaries can find no blemish of just quarrel in the person of Christ Jesus, whose name we would seem to profess: and on the other side, to wit, in us nothing consonant, and agreeable to the true touchstone of Gods holy word, and Christs religion, whereof we bear the name, but all things repugnant and unlike the pure & first pattern thereof.
But it is wel now, thāked be Christ,1 yt these offensiue baggage & image worshippings are for yt more part defaced & scraped out of christian churches, & the ancient puritie of christiā profession, is begun to take so good footing, yt now amongst vs remaine no dregges in our temples, in our religion, nor in our doctrine, that may minister iust occasion of offence to the Iewes, or any other enemies, though thei inueigh our religion neuer so much. And I would to God, al other that professe ye name ⟨image 105⟩of christians, would yeeld their like endeuour to the abolishment of al corruptions of religion, and inciuilitie of liuing out of their cō gregations, which may breede any further lothsomnes to ye Iewes. Truly this is much to be lamented, that our aduersaries can find no blemish of iust quarell in the person of Christ Iesu, whose name we would seeme to professe: and on the other side, to wit, in vs nothing consonant, and agreeable to the true touchstone of Gods holy word, and Christes religion, whereof we beare the name, but all things repugnant and vnlike the pure & first patterne thereof.
But I will not adventure further upon this quavemire: the sink is deeper than can be in this place, or at this time scoured or launched. But sithence our present purpose is now to treat only of the conversion of the Jews: of the good success whereof, as there is no hope at all else then by purging and cleansing the filthy puddles of our superstitions, the unsavoury stench whereof the Jews can by no means digest: what remaineth for us to do (my dear brethren and honourable fathers in the Lord) but that every of us in our vocation, employ all our endeavour, faculty ⟨image 105⟩and power, that nothing may be committed amongst us, in our default from henceforth, whereby the true religion of Christ (which he gave most pure without spot or blemish) may be defiled, and brought into hatred and obloquy, and blasphemed amongst the Jews, Turks, Pagans, and unbelieving infidels. My meaning here tendeth not to the determining of controversies in sects, nor of doubtful controversies debated in schools: the censure whereof, I commit to the great masters, and doctors in divinity: Only my request at this time is, that those gross monuments of manifest idolatry, those fantastical devises and frivolous forgeries of signs and Images, and those stagelike gestures and pelting trumperies, frequented in Churches, as are the praying for the dead, worshipping of creatures & signs, forbidding priests marriages, & such like peevish absurdities (wherewith the Jews were never acquainted) which are manifestly repugnant to the […] word of God, yea and contrary to common reason almost, may be rooted out and vanished from Christian Churches and congregations: that so we may open an entry to the Jews and Turks, to conceive an inward ⟨image 106⟩desire to be joined to the son of God: or if we will not do this for the Jews sake, let us yet at the least have due regard to our own estate. We have been plagued sufficiently enough by the Turks and Saracens for our idolatry, if we respect the sundry overthrows, famines, slaughters, and alterations of kingdoms, wherewith the Christians have been miserably tormented many hundred years, to the great delight of the Jews:
But I wil not aduenture further vpō this quauemire: the sincke is deeper thē can be in this place, or at this time scowred or lanched. But sithence our present purpose is now to treate only of the conuersion of the Iewes: of the good successe whereof, as there is no hope at all els then by purging and cleansing the filthie puddles of our superstitions, the vnsauerie stenche whereof the Iewes can by no meanes disgest: what remayneth for vs to do (my deare brethren and honourable fathers in the Lord) but that euery of vs in our vocation, employe all our endeuour, facultie
neither is any hope almost of redress from great calamities, like to ensue, unless we cast away this worshipping of idols out of Christian congregations and Temples, (as I said before) and by this means enter upon a new course of better conversation and purer worshipping of God.
neither is any hope almost of redresse from great calamities, like to ensue, vnlesse we cast away this worshipping of idoles out of Christian congregations and Temples, (as I said before) and by this meanes enter vpon a new course of better conuersation and purer worshipping of God.
But forasmuch as this notable enterprise of reformation of life, and purer discipline, hath over many adversaries at this day, such as will by no persuasion suffer themselves to be allured from their accustomed impiety: & that this wicked age ministereth no hope of recovery by exhortation, and that nothing can avail now to bring this to pass, but supplications and prayers: Let every of us most humbly join together in earnest & hearty prayer, ⟨image 106⟩to the eternal God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ: beseeching him for his dearly beloved sons sake, that as he hath shut up all under unbelief, because he will have compassion on all, so he will vouchsafe to deliver the Jews from their infidelity, all Christians from superstition and idolatry, and withal govern and sanctify his Church in the same pure sincerity, wherewith he did beautify it at the beginning. For which cause we humbly beseech thee also, most mild Saviour,1 which art appointed King over thy holy hill Zion to manifest thy self a redeemer unto thy people out of that thy holy hill Zion,2 and to turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Then shall that come to pass which thou diddest promise long ago by the mouth of the Prophet, that the children of Judah, and the children of Israel being gathered together under one head,3 shall all together with us, with one soul, one voice, and one mouth, acknowledge thee to be the true son of the living God, shall magnify thee our redeemer, and attain eternal salvation of body and soul, together with us, in thy everlasting kingdom, through thee, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
But forasmuch as this notable enterprise of reformatiō of life, and purer discipline, hath ouer many aduersaries at this daye, such as will by no persuasion suffer themselues to be allured frō their accustomed impietie: & that this wicked age ministreth no hope of recouerie by exhortation, and that nothing can auaile now to bring this to passe, but supplications and praiers: Let euery of vs most humbly ioyne together in earnest & heartie praier, ⟨image 106⟩to the eternall God, father of our Lord Iesu Christ: beseeching him for his dearely beloued sonnes sake, that as he hath shut vp all vnder vnbeliefe, because he will haue compassion on all, so he will vouchsafe to deliuer the Iewes from their infidelitie, all Christians from superstition and idolatrie, and withall gouerne and sanctifie his Church in the same pure synceritie, wherewith he did beautifie it at the beginning. For which cause we humbly beseech thee also, most mylde Sauiour,
FINIS.
Imprinted at London, by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queens Majesty.
Imprinted at London, by Christopher Barker, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie.
ANNO. 1578.
Men and brethren, to whom God hath revealed in these later days the secrete of his son which was hidden from you many ages, it is not unknown unto you how that in the days of our forefathers God chose us to be a precious people unto himself above all the people that are upon the earth:1 and he loved us and chose us, not because we were mo in number then any people: for we were the fewest of all people: but he chose us only because he loved us, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto our fathers Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. By virtue of which promise the same our Lord and God, whose name is Jehovah, brought our fathers by a mighty hand and delivered them out of the house of bondage from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt, that they might know that the Lord their ⟨image 108⟩God is the God in deed, the faithful God which keepeth covenant and mercy unto them that love him and keep his commandments, even to a thousand generations. According to which great & unspeakable loving kindness, he kept, and preserved our fathers in the land of Israel, which he had given them under the obedience of his Law in such service of sacrifices and other rites, as he had appointed them to be done and practised all the days of their lives in the city of Jerusalem, where was his Temple built upon the mount Zion, so long as they kept them selves in obedience to the same Law and ordinances. But when they forsook the Lord their God, and cleaved unto false gods, he rewarded them to their face because they hated him, and brought them to destruction by delivering them into the hands of many enemies: as into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, by whom they were carried into captivity to Babylon, and there remained the days foretold them by our Prophet Jeremiah: Fulfilling thereby the words of our Prophet Moseh foretelling us that it should so be, if we forsook the Lord our God: and leaving us their posterity an example thereby, that, ⟨image 108⟩if we followed like iniquity, like severity of punishment should overtake us: As it came to pass, and is fulfilled in the eyes of all the world by this captivity which we are now in and have been in, we and our forefathers, ever since the death of that righteous man Jesus Christ:
MEn and brethrē, to whom God hath reuealed in these later dayes the secrete of his sonne which was hidden from you many ages, it is not vnknowen vnto you how that in the dayes of our forefathers God chose vs to be a precious people vnto himself aboue all the people that are vpon the earth:
whom the Scribes and Pharisees and Elders of our people delivered into the hands of Pontius Pilate to be put to death, being before betrayed into their hands by one of his own disciples that son of perdition Judas Iscariot. As our forefathers then pronounced against them selves, Let his blood be upon our heads and upon our children: so it is come to pass by the righteous judgement of that mighty & dreadful God. For even from those days unto this present the whole house of Israel, that is, we that come of the stock of Abraham after the flesh, is & are strangers out of the land of Israel our own country without Law or Prophets, without all exercise of his statutes and ordinances concerning his worship prescribed unto us by the hand of his servant Moseh. This long and wearisome captivity hath consumed a great number of our forefathers, •nd hath caused some of us from time to time, ⟨image 109⟩through the grace and love of God wherewith he loveth us for the promise sake, to think upon our promised Messiah: conferring these days of sorrow & calamity with our former captivities of our fathers, which were nothing so many in number of years, nor so grievous for want of our Prophets. These fifteen hundred years have we been strangers, & these fifteen hundred years have we lacked our Prophets: a thing not seen at any time before when we & our fathers were carried into a strange land. For in Egypt they had Mosheh & Aaron: and in Babylon they had Jeremiah & Daniel, besides Ezra, Nehemiah, and many other: only in this captivity is Israel left desolate and our Prophets clean gone. Whereof when it pleased God I should have consideration, I was lead to think that our Messiah is come, and that our long looking for an other was but in vain: And that rather, for that I see the words of Jacob our father accomplished where he sayeth,1 The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh come: and the people shall be gathered unto him. For the Sceptre and government was continued in the house of ⟨image 109⟩Judah, as our fathers accord, until the coming of this man Jesus: in whom if it were not continued according to the words of our scriptures, it hath failed and wanted ever since. For since the days of that just man there hath been no Sceptre amongest us, neither have we or do we run for judgements unto Jerusalem:
So that if the words of our father Jacob be true, That the Sceptre should not depart from the house of Judah until Shiloh came, and there is no Sceptre nor Lawgiver now in that house: then must it needs be that this man Jesus, whom you confess and believe, is that Shiloh which was to come: and is that child of whom one or our Prophets sayeth,1 Unto us a child is borne, and unto us a son is given, and the government is upon his shoulder, And he shall call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of peace, the increase of his government and peace shall have none end, he shall sit upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it & to stablish it with judgement and justice from henceforth, even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. This man then no ⟨image 110⟩doubt is that Messiah which was looked for according to promise, and our fathers and people acknowledge not, fulfilling in them selves the words of their own mouth, His blood be upon our heads. In deed it seemed strange to me, and doth to the rest of my brethren according to the flesh, even unto this day, in whom this blindness and hardness of heart is in part continued through occasion given by them that profess the name of this man Jesus: And not only in us which are of the house of Israel, but in other, as the Turks and Mahomets which are of the race of Ishmael. For had it not been for the great and manifold Idolatry that is committed and used amongst the Christians almost in all places where his Name is professed, many of our nation had repented in sackcloth and ashes, and had come to this man Jesus their brother after the flesh, from whom they are now estranged and go astray. But well is it written in your Law, Woe be unto him by whom offence cometh: according as it is written in our Law, Cursed be the man that layeth a stumbling block in the way of his neighbour, and all the people shall say Amen. But when it pleased God to bring ⟨image 110⟩me into this land, which I must for the same cause call a blessed land, and I saw therein no such impediment as holdeth our eyes blinded in other places:
So that if ye wordes of our father Iacob be true, That the Scepter should not depart from the house of Iudah vntill Shilo came, and there is no Scepter nor Lawegiuer nowe in that house: then must it needes be that this man Iesus, whō you confesse and beleeue, is that Shilo which was to come: and is that childe of whom one or our Prophetes sayeth,
It was a means, I must needs confess, that made me more deeply to enter into the former consideration of our long captivity, & better to think of the words of our Prophets, and the promises set down by them touching our Messiah. For the wall that maketh a separation between our nation the stock of Abraham, and you the Gentiles, is in your respect and in your behalf broken down: so that I can not justly say of you, as we & our fathers and Elders say of all other, using in all our books and writings to call and account of them by no other name but Baal abodazara Idolatrous masters, and lords of strange worship: A thing so detestable unto us, as nothing more concerning our Law, being in deed the first and chiefest of our commandments given us by the hand of Mosheh, and so often repeated unto us, as no one thing more in all our scriptures: Besides the manifest anger of God showed against it,1 in punishing the trespass therein committed by our forefathers in the absence of Mosheh, ⟨image 111⟩when he was gone up into the mount to fetch the Law. When our fathers were to enter into the land of promise, the first and principal point required of them was this:2 When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, & shall root out many nations be•ore thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, & the Ammonites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations mightier and greater than thou, & the Lord thy God shall give them before thee: then shalt thou smite them, thou shalt utterly destroy them, thou shalt make no covenant with them nor have compassion on them, neither shalt thou make marriages with them, neither give thy daughter unto his son, nor take his daughter unto thy son: for they will cause thy son to turn away from me, & to serve other gods: then will the wrath of the Lord wax hot against you, and destroy thee suddenly:3 But thus you shall deal with them, you shall overthrow their altars, and break down their pillars, and you shall cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire.
It was a meanes, I must needes confesse, that made mee more deepely to enter into the former consideration of our long captiuitie, & better to thinke of the wordes of our Prophets, and the promises set downe by them touching our Messhiach. For the wall that maketh a separation betweene our nation the stocke of Abraham, and you the Gentiles, is in your respect and in your behalfe broken downe: so that I can not iustly say of you, as we & our fathers and Elders saye of all other, vsing in all our bookes and writings to call and accompt of them by no other name but Baale abodazara Idolatrous masters, and lords of strāge worshippe: A thing so detestable vnto vs, as nothing more concerning our Lawe, being in deede the first and chiefest of our commandements giuen vs by the hand of Mosheh, and so often repeated vnto vs, as no one thing more in all our scriptures: Besides the manifest anger of God shewed against it,
The severity of this Law and the false ⟨image 111⟩worship that we and our fathers behold in them that profess the name of this man Jesus, withholdeth us from coming to make any covenant of peace with you, from joining hands with you, and entering into that familiarity with you, which should be between them that worship one God.1 We are commanded in our Law not to plough with an ox and an ass, neither to wear any garment of linsey woolsey: we understand it so, that we may not join God and Idols together: we may not serve our Lord otherwise than he hath commanded us, saying,2 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left. For he is a jealous God, and we are chosen to be an holy people unto him: which we are taught we can not be, unless we keep this commandment, Thou shalt have none other Gods but one: and this, Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing. And because they do so, we have been withholden by the commandment of our God from making any covenant with them, or hearkening unto any of their Prophets & teachers: for that were but to make Israel to sin, and to provoke the holy one to anger. When they talk with us, they say ⟨image 112⟩they are not such as our Prophets speak of, who worshipped beasts and other creatures, as the sun & the moon: but they worship only the creature of man, who was made to the image of God, and by whom God hath wrought great and marvellous works upon the earth. To whom we answer by the words of our Law, that all idolatry is forbidden us: the commandment forbiddeth not one thing more than an other, neither giveth greater liberty for one thing, than for an other: but saith in these words, Thou shalt not make the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth, thou shalt not bow down to them nor serve them. Whatsoever it be, it is forbidden by our commandment. And if any creature might be worshipped, reason would the sun & moon should have that honour done them: for they serve us to greatest purposes, & by them we reap daily profit. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Mosheh, Samuel, and Elizahu with the rest of the Prophets were good men, and by them God wrought wonderful things, and yet we never worshipped any of them.
And we can not think that this wisdom was or should have been hidden from all them, and all our ⟨image 112⟩fathers, if it had been so great wisdom in the sight of our God. They say unto us oftentimes, that they do not worship them as Gods, but they worship God in them. Neither are the Heathen, we say, that are round about us so blinded with the imagination of their hearts, as that they think that the stocks & stones carved, or the tables which they paint them selves, to be God: but they are persuaded that the living God may be worshipped and served in them. And as for the creature that is worshipped, or in whom the living God is worshipped, whether it be better than an other and more to be accounted of than an other, that is not it that maketh false worship: but the commandment which sayeth, Thou shalt not make the likeness of any thing. And yet those common Christians go very far: for the Christians of Spain & Portugal have it written in their books, as in one which they call Contemplationes del Idiota ala virgin Maria, That that virgin is the Lords treasure, and that she bestoweth gifts and graces upon her servants to make them worthy dwelling houses for her blessed son and the holy Ghost: that her mercy often time pardoneth them, whom the justice of her son might condemn: ⟨image 113⟩that she doth plentifully enrich them that serve her with the holy Ghost, and defendeth them most mightily from the enemy: to wit, from the world, the f•esh and the devil: and that our salvation lieth in her hands. But our Law teacheth us that our God Jehovah is all sufficient, and that all treasures are in his hands: he giveth to whom he listeth: and from whom he listeth he holdeth back. He sayeth he will not give his glory to an other, and what is more glorious to him than to be acknowledged of his creatures to be the only fountain of all goodness, to be our lightening and salvation, that we may dwell confidently under the shadow of hi• wings, who will be called upon in the day of our necessity and he will hear us.
And we can not thinke that this wisedome was or should haue bene hidden from all them, and all our ⟨image 112⟩fathers, if it had bene so great wisdome in the sight of our God. They say vnto vs oftentimes, that they do not worshippe them as Gods, but they worship God in them. Neither are the Heathen, we say, that are rounde about vs so blinded with the imagination of their heartes, as that they thinke that the stockes & stones carued, or the tables which they paint them selues, to be God: but they are persuaded that the liuing God may bee worshipped and serued in them. And as for the creature that is worshipped, or in whome the liuing God is worshipped, whether it be better than an other and more to be accompted of than an other, that is not it that maketh false worship: but the commandement which sayeth, Thou shalt not make the likenesse of any thing. And yet those common Christians go verie farre: for the Christians of Spayne & Portugal haue it written in their bookes, as in one which they call Contemplationes del Idiota ala virgen Maria, That that virgin is the Lordes treasure, and that she bestoweth giftes and graces vpon hir seruantes to make them worthy dwelling houses for hir blessed sonne and the holy Ghost: that hir mercie often time pardoneth them, whome the iustice of hir sonne might condemne:
And therefore as that doctrine is contrary to the doctrine of our Prophet, & is cast away of you which in this country believe in the man Jesus: So I have more willingly and with a more ready mind hearkened to the words of your teachers, and learned by Gods good working to know more of our promised Messiah, than our fathers believe: but no more than our scriptures most truly contain: Being assured that, seeing you have ⟨image 113⟩the words of our Prophets, and do not follow strange gods, you are to be hearkened unto. For by our Law no Prophet may be rejected but the false prophet, who seeketh to turn us away from the Lord our God to serve other gods. And therefore as I have learned by the words of your teachers, conferring them with our Law and Prophets, that our promised King & Messiah is not a Prince of this world, as one that hath to establish a temporal kingdom amongst us: but a spiritual, whose power and might consisteth in governing us by his Spirit, and forgiving the sins of Israel, and taking away the iniquities of Jacob, bearing in his own body the chastisement of our peace, that is, the chastisement that worketh and getteth us peace as our Prophets tell us: So I confess & acknowledge that he is already come, and that it is he of whom our Prophet spake, Behold the days come, saith the Lord,1 that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth: in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is the name whereby they shall call him, The Lord our righteousness. ⟨image 114⟩And therefore being heartily sorry for my so long going astray from the faith of this man Jesus after the evil leading of my country men and kinsmen after the flesh, for whose speedy turning to the Lord I most earnestly pray, and giving the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, hearty thanks for the working of his grace in me, by bringing me from the darkness, wherein my fathers have walked these fifteen hundred years, into his marvellous light, to behold the face of his Christ our true and only Messiah:
And therefore as that doctrine is contrarie to the doctrine of our Prophet, & is cast away of you which in this countrey beleue in the man Iesus: So I haue more willingly and with a more readie minde hearkened to the wordes of your teachers, and learned by Gods good working to knowe more of our promised Messhiach, thā our fathers beleue: but no more than our scriptures most truely conteine: Being assured that, seing you haue
whome the Scribes and Pharisies and Elders of our people deliuered into the handes of Pontius Pilate to be put to death, being before betrayed into their handes by one of his owne disciples that sonne of perdition Iudas Ishcarioth. As our forefathers then pronoūced against them selues, Let his bloud be vpon our heads and vpon our children: so it is come to passe by the righteous iudgement of that mightie & dreadfull God. For euen from those dayes vnto this present the whole house of Israel, that is, wee yt come of the stocke of Abraham after the fleshe, is & are strangers out of the land of Israel our owne countrie without Lawe or Prophets, without all exercise of his statutes and ordinances concerning his worshippe prescribed vnto vs by the hande of his seruant Moseh. This long and weariesome captiuitie hath consumed a great number of our forefathers, •nd hath caused some of vs frō time to time, ⟨image 109⟩through the grace and loue of God wherewith hee loueth vs for the promise sake, to thinke vpō our promised Messhiach: conferring these dayes of sorowe & calamitie with our former captiuities of our fathers, which were nothing so many in number of yeres, nor so grieuous for want of our Prophets. These fiftene hundreth yeres haue we bene strangers, & these fiftene hūdreth yeres haue we lacked our Prophets: a thing not seen at any time before whē we & our fathers were caried into a strange land. For in Egypt they had Mosheh & Aaron: and in Babylon they had Ieremie & Daniel, besides Ezra, Nechemiah, and manie other: onely in this captiuitie is Israel left desolate and our Prophets cleane gone. Whereof when it pleased God I should haue consideration, I was lead to thinke that our Messhiach is come, and that our long looking for an other was but in vaine: And yt rather, for that I see ye wordes of Iacob our father accomplished where hee sayeth,1 The Scepter shall not depart from Iudah, nor a lawegiuer from betweene his feete vntill Shiloh come: and the people shal be gathered vnto him. For the Scepter and gouernement was continued in the house of ⟨image 109⟩Iudah, as our fathers accord, vntill the comming of this man Iesus: in whom if it were not continued according to the woordes of our scriptures, it hath failed and wanted euer since. For since the dayes of that iust man there hath bene no Scepter amongest vs, neither haue we or do we runne for iudgements vnto Ierusalem:
